Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith respond to Jon Jones claiming a lack of motivation for his last two fights at 205 pounds
Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith, two prominent UFC fighters, recently reacted to Jon Jones' admission that he lacked motivation in his last two fights at 205 pounds. While Jones has since moved up to heavyweight, Reyes and Smith both had strong reactions to his comments.
An intriguing aspect of the commentary team for UFC 285 is that it comprises four former fighters, all of whom have been defeated by Jon Jones in the past. These fighters are Daniel Cormier, Anthony Smith, Rashad Evans, and Dominick Reyes. Their collective experience with Jones adds an interesting perspective to their analysis of the upcoming fight.
Reyes, who fought Jones in February 2020 and lost in a controversial decision, expressed frustration with Jones' statement and stated:
"For that fight, I mean, that was my moment. And for him, he tryna say that, oh it was just an after thought. That's definitely disrespectful and it is what it is."
Reyes' statement expressed his disappointment that the fight was a defining moment for him and that Jones' lack of motivation was disrespectful to him and the effort he put into preparing for the fight. Reyes felt that Jones was not taking the fight seriously and that it was not just an "afterthought," as Jones had suggested.
Dominick Reyes knocks down the champ in round 1 😳
#UFC247
(via @ufc)
https://t.co/wBYQ86jLMT
Anthony Smith, who also fought Jon Jones in March 2019 and lost, called Jones' and remarked:
"Look, I'm gonna keep it real with you guys. It hurt my feelings when he said that. But, I don't think he's wrong. When you used to fight guys like Rashad and Shogun and DC and Rampage and Machida and then Anthony Smith in his mind that generation of people, that was different era to him."
DC asks Dominic Reyes, Anthony Smith, and Rashad Evans how they feel about Jon saying the motivation wasn’t there for his final two fights at LHW. Two very different answers from Reyes and Smith. Then Rashad weighs in with how he felt about it. #UFC285 https://t.co/oGATMX9IEP
The decision to include former fighters who have lost to Jon Jones on the analysis team for UFC 285 has been met with varied reactions from fans. Some believe that it was a deliberate choice to add an extra layer of intrigue to the fight, as these fighters have personal experience fighting against Jones and can provide unique insights into his fighting style and strategies. Others view it as a mere coincidence and do not attach much significance to it.
Dana White is excited for Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane
At a press conference preceding UFC 285, Dana White spoke about his enthusiasm for Jon Jones' return to the octagon after a three-year break from the sport. White emphasized his belief in the power of ring rust, explaining that he's excited to see Jones come back stronger than ever before.
White's previous experiences with Jones have led him to believe that the fighter is particularly dangerous upon returning from a hiatus, as his time away from the sport allows him to hone his skills and come back even more intense and focused than before. As a result, White expects Jones to be a formidable opponent for Ciryl Gane.
"I am a big believer in ring rust. But I also believe that Jon Jones is a freak of an athlete. All these things moving up to heavyweight, Ciryl Gane is a monster who moves like a middleweight and the list goes on and on. When you put all these things together in a box and stir it up, makes it the biggest heavyweight fight we have ever done."
White on which question he is most interested in seeing Jon Jones answer tomorrow in the cage https://t.co/bq23wOQryl